Iraq: Help Urged Fleeing Palestinians

UN Refugee Agency Issues New Appeal for Help for
Palestinians Fleeing Persecution in Iraq

New York, Jan 30
2007 11:00AM

The United Nations refugee agency today
issued yet another appeal to the international community,
including neighbouring and resettlement countries, to help
find a “humane solution” for Palestinians fleeing
persecution inside Iraq.

“Another 50 Palestinians have
fled to the Iraq-Syrian border following a traumatic week in
Baghdad, bringing the total number stranded at the frontier
to about 700,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis told a news briefing in
Geneva.

The 50 made the hazardous journey to the border
four days after 73 Palestinians travelled the same road
following the temporary detentions of 30 Palestinian men by
militia in the capital last Tuesday.

Over the past year
UNHCR has voiced mounting alarm for the Palestinians, who
fled to Iraq following the creation of Israel in 1948. Some
received preferential treatment under ousted President
Saddam Hussein, but they have become targets for attack
since his overthrow in 2003. Nearly 20,000 of them have
already fled Iraq but an estimated 15,000 still remain in
the country, mostly in Baghdad.

Syria continues to deny
access to all Palestinians who are now stranded in two
makeshift camps. A group of 356 has been in the no-man's
land between the two countries since May, while the second
group, which has now expanded to some 340, is stuck in El
Waleed on the Iraqi side of the border.

Yesterday UNHCR
and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners provided
food, water, kerosene, hygienic items and medicine to El
Waleed camp. The International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC) and local NGOs will be bringing more tents and other
relief items. A medical team visited the group on Sunday,
but was unable to help one Palestinian man who died Sunday
night from a severe asthma attack.

“Despite our efforts
to help them, the Palestinians continue to live in inhumane
and insecure conditions,” Ms. Pagonis said. “We again
urge the international community, including neighbouring and
resettlement countries, to help find a humane solution for
these refugees who are persecuted inside Iraq and have
nowhere to go.”

Just last week, the agency issued
three appeals on behalf of the Palestinians.

Nelson Mandela, then Deputy President of the African National Congress of South Africa, raises his fist in the air while addressing the Special Committee Against Apartheid in the General Assembly Hall. UN Photo/P. Sudhakaran More>>